Chapter Ten

Markings

True to their word the three wizards were back at Voldemort's lair within two hours. They had all showered and changed into formal robes, still black but cut formally. The only one to not have pure black robes was Osias, on the hem of his robes red embroidery was sewn on in a flame pattern. It wasn't dramatic or over done it served its purpose which was to distinguish Osias from the group.

Severus led them into his master's presence. Whenever a new recruit joined the ranks of the death eaters it was custom for the person that nominated them to being them to their new master.

The two younger wizards looked around with their heads held high. One had proved his worth to the Dark Lord. The other had been accepted into this group since the moment he had been born to an inner circle member.

Draco was going to ask Voldemort if he could be removed from his father's care. He knew from Severus even among death eaters his treatment was not tolerated. If his proposition was granted Lucius would lose significant standing in the ranks, both from the treatment and losing the leverage of having a living son to join their side.

Finally they reached the place where they were to be marked. It was a simple chamber with no furniture and thick walls. The wards on the room were so thick they could feel the magic dancing across their skin upon entering the room. Osias could tell it was designed to block all sound from escaping. Feeling the extreme measures put into place he knew the Marking was going to hurt. A lot.

"Are you ready?" A silibant voice asked from across the room.

"Yes, milord," Osias responded with Draco in unison.

"Then let us begin." Voldemort decried and Severus began the formal presentation and marking period

"I Severus Tobias Prince Snape present to you both Osias Thantos Evans Snape, my son, and Draco Lucius Black Malfoy, my godson. They wish to join our cause. Do you accept the proposal of Osias Snape and Draco Malfoy?" Severus presented formally.

"I accept, come forward Osias and Draco." Voldemort ordered.

The two boys quickly closed the gap between Voldemort and them, then they stopped and bowed low to Voldemort.

"Bare your left forearms." Another command from Voldemort had them pushing up the sleeves on their robes.

"Mort de Carne" Voldemort whispered as he pressed his wand against Draco's arm first. The earsplitting scream that came from Draco reinforced Osias's belief that this was painful.

Soon the blonde boy was left gasping on the ground with the mark an angry red on his arm like he had been branded with red hot steel.

Then Voldemort shifted positions and repeated the process on Osias. He got a new measure of the boy. He could see the pain in the young man's eyes but he didn't vocalize it. His jaw was set and his eyes flashed determinedly. Just when he thought he couldn't stand it much longer the spell was complete and his only reaction was to breathe a touch heavier then normal.

"Welcome to my side of the war." Voldemort said mostly for Osias's benefit.

Osias took the opportunity to ask Voldemort something. It was too important to wait and Draco was still out of it. "Master, Draco wanted to ask a favor of you and I think it is too important to wait. He wants to be removed from his father's care.

He has been abused there worse then my own abuses in some ways, at least my relatives were too repulsed to touch me in anything other then painful ways." Osias said keeping his head bowed the entire time. He could swallow his pride this once this wasn't for him it was for Draco and something within him told him to protect the other at all costs.

Voldemort was taken aback by the request. While he had an inkling of what had made Draco run away to Severus he still didn't like to be confronted with it. He also knew the young man's pride was akin to his own, he wouldn't be so submissive if this wasn't something of great importance to him.

"Very well, do you know who he wishes to be placed with now?" Voldemort asked unnecessarily he already knew the answer.

"Severus," Draco managed to say weakly. He had pulled himself into a sitting position and was regaining his strength his vocal cords were still tender from all the screaming.

"Do you agree to their request Severus, after all you have your own son to consider?" Voldemort asked is long time servant and the closest thing to a friend a dark lord could afford.

"Of course he may not be my son by blood but I am the one who took care of him after his father's tender mercies." He spat out sarcastically.

"Then he is yours, do you wish to have him your son by blood? An adoption ceremony wouldn't take long." Voldemort barely finished his sentence before he was interrupted.

Osias knew it was an incredibly stupid thing to do, but every particle in his being was screaming at him to stop them. "NO! Draco can not be related to me by blood." He said in a rush.

"And why not, are you back sliding so much you can not be associated with him?" Voldemort said testily.

"That's not the problem, this is." Osias answered them by capturing Draco's lips in his own. "I think he is my mate. I don't know for sure but the way my demon reacted when you suggested we become related screamed at me to stop it." Osias explained.

"I agree with Osias, I can feel it too." Draco answered softly still giving his throat time to heal.

"Then Severus will become your guardian instead of your father. You two must learn as much as you can about the nature of your bond. If you find out you are indeed mates a bonding ceremony can be performed to protect Draco better. If you are not mates we can go through with the adoption after words. Having a guardian only protects him so much." This was Voldemort surprisingly. His Slytherin side was showing, and Slytherin's were fiercely loyal and protective of their own.

"Thank you master," Osias replied honestly.

"Osias you have proven your worth, you no longer call me Master, the milord you used before is preferred. Your father only calls me master when the situation calls for it, like a formal gathering or ritual. Draco I have yet to see you fight, once I do I have no doubts you will earn the right to drop the master terminology." Voldemort explained.

"Thank you again, and in all honesty you just spared yourself a bit of a headache. I don't like referring to anyone as a master. I acknowledge you are my better in some areas and at the very least my elder, but that doesn't mean I was going to refer to you as master." Osias said with a smirk.

"Twenty years later and I'm stuck with another Severus," Voldemort commented with a sigh.